Not only do all women experience pregnancy in their own unique way, some women who have had more than one pregnancy will have vastly different reactions from one to the next. In addition to the usual changes in mood, appetite, and energy levels, many women will experience unexpected and worrisome changes to their complexions.

While many women are lucky enough to go through an entire pregnancy with radiant, glowing skin, many others will experience breakouts, rashes, and other side effects for the first time. Before taking a trip to your dermatologist to purchase a medical-grade product designed to alleviate your symptoms, its vital to the health of both you and your baby that you understand some of the inherent risks associated with using certain ingredients while pregnant.

The Top Ingredients to Avoid While Pregnant or Nursing

It’s always a good idea to seek the advice of your skincare professional before starting any new skincare products. That said, there are some that are universally known to carry potential risk for women who are pregnant or nursing, and these should be avoided at all times. Some of these ingredients include:

• Salicylic acid
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Vitamin A in all forms (retinol, retinoids, retinoic acid, tretinoin, etc.)
• Essential oils (often thought to be natural and harmless, these oils are not are not assessed or regulated by the FDA).
• Hydroquinone
• Chemical sunscreens (some chemical SPF ingredients are thought to cause hormone disruption).

As both Salicylic acid and Benzoyl peroxide are incredibly effective at treating acne, it can be a frustrating realization that your pregnancy induced acne may be difficult to remedy. Speaking with your dermatologist can help determine other possible treatments that do not run the risk of interfering with your pregnancy.

Always Defer to The Expertise of Your OB-GYN

You will notice that most of the Lumen products come with the precaution: Do not use if pregnant or nursing. As a general rule, it is best to avoid any medical-grade skincare product while pregnant, and we know that the health of your baby is far more important than anything related to your skincare routine. If you have any questions regarding skincare use and your pregnancy, we always recommend our patients trust and follow the advice of their OB-GYN.

From our LUMEN family to yours, we wish you the very best for a glowing, wonderful pregnancy and will be here when you return! Congratulations!